See, See The Cape’s in View

As if offering proof of Jon’s intentions with this site, he says of this “I’ve learnt from Paul Davenport and Jess Arrowsmith who both sing it at the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield at the monthly unaccompanied singing session – well worth getting to.” So if you’re in the area that sounds like an invitation worth following through. I will confess the drawing a blank with this, however, so if anyone can shed some light on the origins of the song it will be gratefully appreciated.

This entry was posted
on Saturday, November 15th, 2014 at 12:00 am
and is filed under News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

A quick look at VWML Online reveals that there are 5 references under Roud 5384. One is the Tommy Morrisey recording on VTC9CD (‘Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All’) that Reinhard refers to, while another is also on Veteran, sung by Charlie Pitman, also of Padstow on Veteran VT 122 (‘Pass Around the Grog’). Another refers to a book; O’Connor, This Song I’ll Sing to You (1995) p.25, which refers back to Tommy Morrisey’s singing. A fourth is a sound recording from the Gwilym Davies Collection sung by Charlie Hill of Spreyton, Devon. The fifth goes under the title, ‘Here’s a Health to Queen Victoria,’ the first line concluding: ‘and long may she reign.’ This was collected in 1907 by George B Gardiner from Frank Shilley in Portsmouth.

Peer pressure or what!J ust think of that monster hangover after a session such as this.
Did they have “AA” in those days….rousing old song though. Reinhard..thanks for the links….don’t worry about the typos.. corrections only boost a song’s rating!

Thanks Jon for this great hearty song – it’s now on my must-learn-properly list so that it can come out when the lusty chorus crew are in. The verses in Mudcat about “not drunk till you are prostrate” are a bit over the top for singing socially in a modern pub – but maybe worth having in reserve.

I first heard this sung by Jon Cleave of the Fisherman’s Friends, on their third CD ” Home from the Sea ” ( for the RNLI )
Jon sings ” The cape’s in view ” … but several sources give it as ” The game’s in view “, and mention “marching”
I think the game meant the (land battle – it’s been adapted and changed lots… like a proper folk song should be, IMHO.

Tom Brown, who runs the Shammick Acoustic session/club in Combe Martin, North Devon has beeen known to sing this one. He probably got it from someone in Padstow as he does attnd May Day there every year (Old ‘Oss of course). He may be able to help with the origins as he is a bit of an authority on these things.

Can find no new research to add to the informative comments on this song, save that Alan Rosevear above, who had this song on his ‘must-learn-properly-list’ must have learnt it properly – lol – ‘cos here he is in fine voice on YouTube! (And mentions that this was a Jon Boden A Folk Song A day song.)